How to Stop and Prevent HVAC System Leaks

October 7th, 2014 admin

If you’ve had your HVAC system for several months, then there’s a pretty good chance that you haven’t had any issues with it, especially as it relates to system leaks. But if yours is over a few years old, due to a bit of wear and tear that it has experienced, there is a chance that you might experience a leak from time to time.

And while you definitely could reach out to a qualified HVAC technician to assist you, remember that they charge for their services (this includes inspecting the unit). Therefore, it’s a good idea that you are made aware of some things that you can do yourself in order to stop and prevent HVAC system leaks from occurring within your home.

If it’s due to an overflow pan: The overflow pan is something that all HVAC units have. The purpose of it is to catch any of the condensation that may be coming from the unit itself. In order to detect a leak in that area, use your flashlight and shine it on the pan itself. If you do happen to notice cracks along the corners or edges, they are going to need to be sealed up. You can do this by applying some epoxy glue to the holes or cracks. However, in most instances, it’s actually best if you replace the overflow pan altogether.

If it’s due to a clogged filter: If you’re not sure how often you should change out your unit’s air filter, you really should wait no longer than 90 days to do it. There are a couple of reasons why this is the case. For one thing, a dirty filter can cause your unit to have to work harder to blow air. Also, when the filter is dirty, it can result in ice forming on some of the unit’s evaporator coils, resulting in system leaks.

If it’s due to a stopped-up condensate line: One of the most common reasons why HVAC systems incur leaks is because there is something wrong with its condensate line. If you’re not familiar with what that is, basically it’s what drains the condensation from the overflow pan to the outside of your home (or a drainpipe). When the line is clogged up, what ends up happening is that it causes the water to back up and spill over into the overflow pan, oftentimes to the point of flooding it. What you can do to stop this from happening is to either use a wet/dry vacuum to suck the clog directly out of the condensate line. Or, you can use hand pump called Mighty Pump. It’s specifically made to clear out those kinds of lines. You can learn more about Mighty Pump by going to Amazon and putting “Mighty Pump” in the search field.

If it’s due to cold weather: If you want to know how to improve existing AC efficiency and save money in the process, pay close attention to how you treat your HVAC (or standalone AC unit) during colder weather. It’s a good idea to keep in mind that if it’s chilly outside, that can make your cooling coil freeze up. You can test this by looking to see if there’s no water at bedtime, but then again if it’s leaking in the morning. If this is the case, switch the unit’s thermostat to “fan only” to see if the problem improves. If it doesn’t, contact a professional HVAC technician so that they can look it over. For information on how to find a good HVAC technician in your area, visit Angie’s List and put “find a reputable HVAC technician” in the search field.